If you ever wanted to see an example of
what could go wrong when there’s not
enough water, look no further than
what’s happening right now in São Paulo,
the capital of Brazil.

São Paulo is a bustling city of over
twenty million people – more than double
the population of New York City – and
it’s going through its worst drought in
84 years.

A series of five interconnected
reservoirs that under normal conditions
provides water for about 9 million of
São Paulo’s residents, is almost
completely dry.

“The government of the state of São
Paulo has admitted that it may be
forced to impose ‘drastic’ and ‘tough’
water rationing in Greater São Paulo,
with possible cuts to supply of up to
five days,” explains the Brazilian
news source Folha de S.Paulo.

Can you imagine how you would cope
when you only have water for 2 days
per week?

How do you go to the bathroom? How
do you keep yourself clean?

How do you cook?

What happens to your business?

How do you grow crops to feed your
family without sufficient water?

The 2015 World Economic Report on
Global Risks lists water crises as
the number one global threat based
on likelihood and impact — above
the spread of infectious disease,
unemployment or terrorist attacks.

So it would seem that we need a ‘war’
on water more than we need a war on
‘terror.’

We could call it WOW!

What Could Be Done in Costa Rica?

Some personal suggestions:

1. Costa Rica should implement public education programs to clearly show the people that it’s in their best interests to conserve both water and electricity.
2. Costa Rica should promote more energy efficiency and demand management programs for both water and electricity.
3. The local authorities must repair or replace leaking and burst water pipes in a more expeditious manner. (We should also be recycling ‘everything’ more than we do.
4. Is it just me? Or do you also think it is insane that we should be considering using a zillion gallons of water to grow crops – not for food – but for fuels for cars and trucks?
5. How about a 100% special ‘A/C consumption tax’ on electricity to all homes in the Central Valley that choose to use air conditioners?
6. Costa Rica has plenty of sun and alternative energy technologies are drastically under-utilized in the energy sector, so we should dramatically increase investments into more solar and wind energy research. Why not start by insisting on all new hotels and homes being built with solar powered water heaters only?
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7. Why not insist on all new construction be done with water efficient toilets and flow restrictors on faucets and shower heads?
8. Why not implement a special water tax for high volume water users and people with swimming pools? Divert rainwater from roofs to rain barrels. Why not redirect sink, tub, and clothes washer water into containers for garden use? Or redirect that water to flush our toilets?
9. Costa Rica national parks are legally protected which has prevented us from developing more geothermic power but surely there is a way to do this in an environmentally friendly manner?
10. As far as gasoline is concerned, why shouldn’t we have some kind of a ‘sin tax?’. While Manuel Fernandez drives around San Jose in his Toyota Prius that gives him 45 miles to the gallon, Joshua Goldberg the multi-millionaire online gambling Gringo from Williamsburg, Brooklyn gets 9 miles per gallon in his Hummer. Why not have a gas consumption ‘norm’ and above that ‘norm’ someone like the Hummer owner would have to pay a ‘sin tax’ of 100% and those additional monies are dedicated only to developing alternative energy sources.
11. The political, institutional, regulatory and legal roadblocks that prevent Costa Rica from developing more alternative energy sources and allowing more competition must be reformed and streamlined as soon as possible. The very future of the country depends on this.
12. With two massive coast lines, perhaps Costa Rica could enter into some joint venture agreements to try and harvest the power of the ocean with wave energy.

“There is a water crisis today. But
the crisis is not about having too
little water to satisfy our needs.
It is a crisis of managing water
so badly that billions of people –
and the environment – suffer badly.”
World Water Vision Report.

In his article entitled California has about one year of water left. Will you ration now? A senior water scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory/Caltech and a professor of Earth system science at UC Irvine, Jay Famiglietti examines the serious problems faced by California but …

Thankfully most – but not all –
areas of Costa Rica get enough
water every year, but like most
resources, it could be managed
better.

This global water shortage problem
will eventually affect all of us,
no matter where we live so if you
are searching for your new home in
Costa Rica, please do your homework
and make sure that water will not
be a problem.

Written by Scott Oliver, author of 1: How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa, 2: Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore and 3. ¿Cómo Comprar Bienes Raíces en Costa Rica, Sin Perder Su Camisa?

Written by Thomas Molloy who was born and raised in Chicago and who moved to Costa Rica in 2003 from California.  Thomas lives with his wife and two children in Lake Arenal. They call Lake Arenal home for it’s natural beauty, diverse wildlife, the friendly locals and expats, health, wellness, security, and the perfect climate. 

Thomas and his family enjoys lake activities including boating, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and gardening.

If you would like to chat with our Recommended Realtor Thomas Molloy in the Lake Arenal area about buying a home or land on which to build your own dream home please help us to help you by using the simple form below:

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.